FF MP Sihle Lonzi removed from meeting over Gwede Mantashe’s son’s SETA appointment

CHAOS erupted when EFF MP Sihle Lonzi was forcibly removed from a parliamentary committee meeting after questioning the alleged appointment of Gwede Mantashe’s son to a Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) board.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, during a meeting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP, Lonzi, was forcibly removed by security officers.

The disruption occurred after Lonzi raised questions about the appointment of individuals with ties to the African National Congress (ANC) to the boards of SETAs, specifically highlighting the alleged appointment of Buyambo Mantashe, son of ANC Chairperson and Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe, to the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA).

In the video of the meeting, Lonzi can be seen clashing with committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie after demanding answers from the director general of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi. 

Lonzi insisted on using his allocated 15 minutes to question the department about the appointments, despite Letsie’s attempts to steer the discussion away.

“DG, have you made appointments to the board chairpersons of SETAs?” Lonzi asked.

He repeatedly said that he has a right to receive an answer directly from Sishi.

However, Letsie intervened, saying that the matter had already been addressed and that the director-general did not have the authority to make the appointments. 

“We also have a legislative prerogative to assist one another,” said Letsie. “The DG will not know.”

Letsie informed him that he had arrived late to the meeting, where the issue had already been addressed. He also mentioned that he had written to Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Nobuhle Nkabane, inquiring about her availability to answer questions regarding the alleged appointments.

Lonzi accused the chairperson of shielding Sishi and undermining accountability. 

“You are becoming his lawyer. I’m not asking you, I’m asking the DG,” said Lonzi. 

“He’s here. He can speak. He understands English.”

The situation escalated when Lonzi pressed further, asking Sishi whether he was aware of the appointments, including that of Buyambo Mantashe.

Letsie responded, “Two members have already told me that we have resolved this. The DG won’t answer that question...”

Another member of the committee expressed frustration, urging Letsie to restore order.

“Now the meeting is degenerating. Some of us would rather be doing other work in Parliament. Please ensure you take the house back to order.”

Letsie called security to remove Lonzi from the meeting.

In the video, Lonzi is heard shouting, “You’re protecting corruption?” as he is escorted out.

 “Why am I being chased out? Because the chairperson is protecting corruption? The son of Gwede Mantashe, a minister, gets appointed to the boards of SETAs. I ask a question, and then I must be chased out?”

The confrontation comes after a leaked list of SETA board appointments sparked political backlash, with allegations of political patronage and ANC cadre deployment. 

The appointments were made by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Nobuhle Nkabane.

According to the leaked list:

Buyambo Mantashe has been appointed chairperson of the MERSETA board.

Nomusa Dube-Ncube, former KwaZulu-Natal premier, will head the BANKSETA board.

Siboniso Mbhele, head of the KZN Department of Transport, joins the TETA board.

Loyiso Masuku, ANC deputy regional secretary in Johannesburg, has been appointed to the FOODBEV board.

Democratic Alliance (DA) national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau condemned the appointments as “blatant political patronage.”

“These appointments raise serious concerns about the politicisation of institutions meant to serve all South Africans. SETAs are not ANC cadre deployment havens,” she said.

Khakhau has written to Letsie, urgently requesting that Nkabane be summoned to Parliament for a full explanation. 

“The majority of the names raise serious concerns about political connections,” she wrote. 

“The committee must interrogate the minister's list of appointees to ensure the integrity of SETA boards.”

She added, “We will demand full transparency and accountability from Minister Nkabane regarding these appointments. We will not allow the institutions to be captured and repurposed to benefit a narrow political elite at the expense of ordinary South Africans.”